Tape applying mechanism



Feb. 22, 1966 w. s. LOVELAND ETAL 3,236,716

TAPE APPLYING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 22, 1966 w. s. LOVELAND ETAL 3,236,716

TAPE APPLYING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1961 mnw m United States Patent York Filed Sept. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 139,676 11 Claims. (Cl. 156463) The invention is concerned with a machine for applying adhesive tape to articles such as cartons. It is directed in particular to an assembly of wipe down rolls for smoothing out the tape and pressing it into firm engagement with the carton.

More specifically it embodies a novel arrangement of mounting means for the arms carrying the Wipe down rolls and associated mechanism for positioning the arms and urging the rolls into appropriate relation to the carton and with the proper pressure. The arrangement is marked by its exceptional effectiveness and freedom from getting out of order over long periods of use. It is readily adjustable to accommodate cartons of different sizes over a Wide range without disturbing or diminishing the accuracy and effectiveness of its functioning.

Various other features, objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the representative embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described. In connection with the description reference will be made to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a tape applying machine embodying the features of the invention omitting various details but showing the general plan of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a View in elevation of the mechanism for applying the top tape with the front plate removed to show more clearly the wipe down rolls and the supporting and operating mechanism therefor;

FIG. 3 is a view of the machine looking from the right in FIG. 1 showing on an enlarged scale the tape applying mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a pair of wipe down rolls shown at the right in FIG. 2 but with the arms carrying the rolls expanded into wide open position;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the mounting for the upper pair of sprockets the view being substantially on the plane 55 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6a, 6b :and 6c comprise a series of diagrammatic views showing the progressive action of the wipe down rolls; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the lines of force between the upper and lower sprockets resulting in the arms of the wipe down rolls being normally swung to the position shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to the more general features of the machine as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, it embodies a base section comprising particularly the side plates 10 and 11 and vertical channel plates 12 and 13 secured thereto on which is mounted the upper tape applying means indicated generally at 14 in FIG. 1. The tape applying unit 14 will normally be made vertically adjustable on the supporting channel plates 12 and 13. The drawings disclose one form of a suitable means for the purpose in which the unit 14 is mounted on pairs of transverse bars 15a and 15b mounted in plates 16a and 16b vertically slidable in the channels of the channel plates 12 and 13 respectively. A chain 17 has its ends secured in the plate 16a as indicated at 17a and 17b and is engaged at the top around sprocket 18a secured on cross shaft 19; and, around a similar sprocket 1815 at the bottom, a similar chain arrangement is associated with the plate 16b. The plates 16a and 16b, and thereby the unit 14 are vertically adjusted through rotation of handwheel 20 mounted on "ice a shaft 20a which carries a worm 20b meshing with a Worm wheel 200 secured on cross shaft 19. The machine Wlll also embody other details which form no part of the present invention and details thereof are omitted in the interest of clarity. In general the machine as a Whole may be of the type disclosed in the patent to Stagmeier No. 2,052,903 as representative of machines in which the present invention may be embodied.

The machine includes appropriate means for advancing therethrough articles such as the cartons indicated at C in the drawings. Such carton feeding means may comprise as shown in the present drawings a pair of chains 21a and 21b operating over spaced sprockets mounted between the two plates 10 and 11, the sprockets at the right end being indicated at 22 and 23 and similar sprockets being mounted at the left end in FIG. 1 as indicated at 24. The chains carry at suitably spaced positions a series of transverse bars or blades 25 adapted to engage against a carton and advance it. As indicated particularly in FIG. 3 the cartons rest on and slide along a pair of spaced horizontal plates 26 and 27 supported by suitable bracket means 28 and 29 respectively on the corresponding side plates 10 and 11. The upper surfaces of the plates 26 and 27 preferably carry guides for the carton such as the angle irons shown at 30 and 31 which may be adjustable laterally through any suitable means to accommodate and guide cartons of different widths.

Suitable conveyor means may be provided at each end of the tape applying machine such as the series of feed rollers indicated at 32 in FIG. 1 for directing the cartons onto the carton advancing conveyor of the machine, and a similar type of roller conveyor indicated at 33 for receiving the taped cartons. Machines of this type commonly embody various other features such as means for folding down and holding the carton flaps preliminary to engaging the tape and tape applying mechanism.

The present machine is designed to apply tapes to both the upper and lower surface of the cartons, the tape supply roll for the upper tape applying means being indicated at 34 in FIG. 1 from which is drawn the gummed tape 35. Similar tape supply means are mounted in the base for supplying tape to the bottom of the carton the tape itself being indicated at 36 in FIG. 3. The tape most commonly is of the type coated with a dried adhesive and the mechanism accordingly will include means for applying moisture to the surface of the adhesive and also devices for cutting off the tape at appropriate points. Such means and devices are well known in the prior art and the present disclosure will not be encumbered with details thereof. The aforementioned patent to Stagmeier 2,052,903, however, shows tape applying means including typical means for applying moistening fluid to the gum on the tape, and automatically operated tape cutter means.

Referring now to the detailed construction of the tape applying means comprising an embodiment of the present invention, the description will be directed particularly to the mechanism for applying the tape to the upper side of the carton but it will be apparent that a similar mechanism is positioned below the path of the carton and is constructed and operates similarly to the top tape applying means. The upper tape applying mechanism is mounted between a pair of supporting plates 40* and 41 as shown in FIG. 3. Plate 41 is also shown in FIG. 2, the plate 40 being removed in FIG. 2 to disclose more clearly the operating elements. In the present embodiment there are two pairs of wipe down arms 50, 51 and 52, 53 respectively each carrying at its outer end a tape engaging mem ber comprising a roll 54 as shown particularly such as rubber and is rotatable on a sleeve 55 secured between a pair of spaced bosses, indicated at 56- and 57 for the arm 53, by means of screws 58 and 59 respectively threaded into the ends of the sleeve. The bosses 56 and 57 are connected together to form a unit as by the web 60' indicated in FIG. 4. The mating arm 52 is similarly constructed.

The arms 52 and 53 are suitably supported on a common axis between the two plates 40 and 41, the mounting means in the present case comprising a central shaft extending between the two plates 40 and 41 and secured therein by bolts 66 and 67 screw-threaded into the opposite ends of the shaft 65 which is held stationary thereby. As Will be seen in FIG. 4 the arm 52 includes an enlarged boss 70 supported on shaft 65 through the intermediary of a suitable bearing such as the ball bearing 71 and the other side of the arm 52 also has a thinner boss portion 72 likewise supported on the shaft 65 through the intermediary of a ball bearing 73. Secured to the boss 70 and rotatable therewith is a sprocket 74 which is so held by suitable means such as the screw 75 extending through the sprocket and engaged in a hole in the boss portion 7 0.

The arm 53 is similarly constructed and the two arms are symmetrically related, that is arm 53 has an enlarged boss and a thinner boss 81 rotatably mounted on the shaft 65 and secured to boss 80 is a sprocket 82 similar to sprocket 74. The two arms 52 and 53 are independently rotatable on the shaft 65. The larger boss portions 70 and 80 are offset inwardly in each case to accommodate the smaller bosses 81 and 72 respectively as shown in FIG. 4 whereby the rolls 54 operate in the same path. The pair of arms 50, 51 are substantially the same in construction and relation as the pair of arms 52, 53.

The operating unit for swinging the arms on their pivots will now be described. Mounted between the plates 40, 41 is a bracket shown in side elevation in FIG. 2 and in horizontal section in FIG. 5. The bracket 90 is adapted to swing on the pin 91 secured between the plates 40, 41 by screw studs extending through the plates into the ends 92 of pin 91. Extending laterally from the pivot support part of the bracket 90 are a pair of spaced flanges 93, and mounted therein on a fixed pin 94 is a pair of sprockets 95 and 96 which may be made integral with each other or otherwise joined torotate together. Suitable bearing means are provided such as the bushings 97. Power means is provided to swing the operating unit embodying the bracket 90 on its pivot 91 as will shortly be described. The sprockets 95 and 96 have a special flexible drive connection with sprockets 74 and 82 respectively. Secured to sprocket 95 at some suitable point in its periphery such as at 100 is a chain 101 which extends around the sprocket from point 100 in a counter clockwise direction in FIG. 2 and continues down around sprocket 74 in a similar counter clockwise direction and is pinned thereto at an appropriate point such as indicated at 102. Similarly but in a reverse direction a chain 104 is pinned to sprocket 96 at a point such as indicated at 105 and extends therefrom around sprocket 96 in a clockwise direction and down and around sprocket 82 in a clockwise direction and is pinned to the latter as at 106. As a result of the arrangement, swinging bracket 90 about its pivot 91 in a counter clockwise direction serves to swing the arms 52 and 53 into a closed scissor relation such as indicated in FIG. 2. It will be appreciated that other types of operative connections may be employed between the upper unit 90 and the arms 52 and 53 such as a gear connection in each case or other kinds of flexible means such as plain cables wrapped around pulleys or drums. Whether in the form of sprockets or pulleys for example the elements are of course of the general class of wheels and the term wheels as employed herein is intended to comprehend all such rotary elements as sprockets, sheaves, pulleys or gears and whether or not they are in the form of complete circles or suitable segments. In this connection it will be apparent that in most applications, for the elements shown as full sprockets, segments of suitable angular extent would be suflicient.

It is necessary that the scissor arms 52 and 53 not only be urged together in a closed scissor position but also that they normally be caused to move to an appropriate for effective operative engagement by the advancing car ton. Various means may be employed for this purpose but the present arrangement enables that function to be accomplished without added elements. Basically this is effected by making the radius or effective lever arm of one of the sprockets of a pair of different from that of the other sprocket of that pair. In the present embodiment the sprocket 95 is made smaller than the sprocket 96 which causes greater torque on arm 52 than that on the opposed arm 53. As a consequence the two arms swing together in a clockwise direction until they meet an obstruction such as a limiting stop indicated at 108. The forces involved are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7 the ele-' ments corresponding to parts shown in other figures being indicated by prime marks. The relative sizes of sprockets 95' and 96 are exaggerated for clarity. Because of the shorter lever arm effective at sprocket 95' than at sprocket 96 a greater proportion of the force F exerted on pivot point 9 4' is transferred to chain 101' than to chain 104. Consequently when the two arms are free of a carton the arm 52 overpowers the opposing arm 53 and the two arms swing together in a clockwise direction until they meet the stop 108.

The operation of the arms 50 and 51 is the same as that of the arms 52 and 53 except in the present efm bodiment the operating unit is urged by the power operating means in a clockwise direction about its pivot 111.

In some cases one pair of wipe down rolls may be adequate but in the preferred form shown two pairs are employed which, however, function in the same manner. Also independent power means may be employed for each unit but the present system conveniently and economically employs a common source of power which is effective with equal force on the two units. The power means is of a nonrigid type adapted to apply an elastic pressure on the operating units 90 and 110 and through the operating con nections to the respective wipe down arms. The power means in the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a fluid pressure piston and cylinder arrange ment suspended in a floating position between the two units, the cylinder 112 having a finger 113 rigid therewith pivoted at 114 between the flanges 93 of bracket 90. Similarly piston rod 115 is threaded into a connector element 116 pivoted at 117 between the two flanges of unit 110 corresponding to flanges 93 of unit 90.

The cylinder 112 is connected to a source of pressure fluid by suitable means such as the flexible conduit 120. The supply line will include suitable control means such as a shut-off valve 121 and an adjustable pressure regulator R adapted to be manually set for the desired pressure. The cylinder and piston device is one form of fluid pressure expansible chamber which can be employed for the purpose. Other elastic power means such as a spring could be employed in place of the fluid pressure means but the present means is simple and readily adjusted for a desired selected pressure at the wipe down rolls, and the pressure remains constant regardless of the position of the arms as distinguished from a spring the force of which varies with the amount of distortion.

Dependent upon the circumstances including the character of the cartons or like articles to which the tape is to be applied the complete machine may include wipe down rolls located below the path of the bottom surface and adapted to apply a bottom tape. Such lower wipedown rolls and associated mechanism may be identical with the upper operating means except reversed as to posi tion. In this respect FIG. 3 shows a pair of wipe down; arms and 131 corresponding to the upper arms 52; and 53 respectively.

FIGS. 6a to 60 indicate in a general manner the opera;

tion and functioning of the wipe down rolls. As the carton C is fed by the conveyor the forward face engages the depending end of the tape 35 and the tape is pressed by rolls 54a on the arm 50 of the first pair of wipe down arms against the end of the carton as shown in FIG. 6a. With continued advance of the carton roll 54a moves down over the end of the tape and then back up and onto the top of the carton. During this time roll 54-11 on arm 51 has been advancing along the top of the carton and soon the scissors arrangement is spread open as indicated in FIG. 6b. Upon further advance of the carton roll 54b rides over the rear end of the carton and down the rear end thereof. In the meantime the tape has been cut auto matically at an appropriate point to provide a short sec tion to extend down the rear face of the carton such cut ting means being well known in mechanism of the gen eral type here concerned. As roll 54a leaves the top of the carton the pair of arms 50 and 51 are free to move to their normal position of rest shown in FIG. 2 until the next carton comes along. The particular carton C shown in FIG. 6a continues on and engages the second pair of rolls on wipe down arms 52 and 53 which operate on the tape in the same manner as the rolls on the arms 50 and 51, as indicated in FIGS. 6b and 60, thereby assuring that the tape is firmly pressed down and cemented over its full length including the end portions extending down the for Ward and rear faces of the carton respectively. In this connection it may be noted that the particular carton indicated in FIGS. 6a and 619 has advanced to the position C in FIG. 60 and the roller 540 on arm 53 is in the proc ess of moving downwardly and then upwardly against the tape on the rear end of the carton. The bottom tape applying mechanism functions in the same manner as the top tape applying mechanism just described.

It should be understood that various changes may be made in the above described apparatus and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, and it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A tape applying mechanism comprising two pairs of pivoted arms each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, the arms of each pair being concentrically mounted in opposed relation on a common pivot axis, a separate movably mounted operating unit for each pair of arms, an operating connector means from each operating unit to each of the arms of the corresponding pair for counter rotating said arms in a closing direction toward each other when said operating units are moved in appropriate directions, and a common elastic power operating means mounted between and connected to each of said units.

2. A tape applying device comprising a pair of arms pivoted in opposed relation each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, a movably mounted operating unit, an elastic power means for urging said unit on its mounting in one direction, an operating connector means from said unit to each of said arms for counter rotating said arms in a closing direction toward each other when said unit is urged in said one direction, the connector means including proportioned torque application members for applying a greater effective torque on one arm than that on the other whereby the arms may be urged to rotate together as a unit.

3. A tape applying device comprising a pair of arms pivoted in opposed relation each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, a movably mounted unit, an elastic power means, a connection from said power means to said unit adapted to shift the unit on its mounting, and an operating connector means from said unit to each of said arms for counter rotating said arms in a closing direction toward each other when said unit is shifted in an appropriate direction by said power means.

4. A tape applying device comprising a pair of arms pivoted in opposed relation each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, a pivoted bracket means, a fluid pressure power cylinder adapted to be connected to a source of pressure fluid, a connection from said power cylinder to said bracket means for rotating the bracket means about its pivot, and an operating connector means from said bracket means to each of said arms for counter rotating said arms in a closing direction toward each other when said bracket means is rotated in an appropriate direction by said power cylinder.

5. A tape applying device comprising a pair of arms pivoted in opposed relation each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, a movably mounted operating unit, an elastic pressure means for urging said unit on its mounting in one direction, an operating lement rotatably mounted on said unit, a separate wheel connected with each of said arms and adapted to rotate therewith, a first flexible member connecting said element with one of said wheels, and a second flexible member connecting said element with the other of said wheels, the first said member being engaged around its associated wheel in one direction, and the second member being engaged around its associated wheel in an opposite direction whereby movement of said unit in said one direction counter rotates said wheels and said arms swing in a closing direction toward each other.

6. A tape applying device comprising a pair of arms pivoted in opposed relation each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, a movably mounted operating unit, an elastic pressure means for urging said unit on its mounting in one direction, a pair of connected operating wheels mounted to rotate together on said unit, a separate wheel connected with each of said arms and adapted to rotate therewith, a first flexible member connecting one of said operating wheels with one of said arm wheels, and a second flexible member connecting the other of said operating wheels with the other of said arm wheels, the first said member being engaged around its associated wheels in one direction, and the second member being engaged around its associated wheels in an opposite direction whereby movement of said unit in said one direction counter rotates said arm wheels and said arms swing in a closing direction toward each other, the effective radius of one wheel of one of the pairs being greater than that of the other wheel of that pair.

7. A tape applying mechanism embodying a pair of pressure applying units, each unit comprising a pair of arms pivoted in opposed relation and each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, a pivoted bracket means, and an operating connector means from said bracket means to each of said arms for counter rotating said arms in a closing direction toward each other when said bracket means is rotated in an appropriate direction, and a common power operating means for said two units comprising a fluid pressure expansible member mounted between and connected to each of said bracket means, each of said bracket means being rotated in said appropriate directions upon expansion of said pressure expansible member to rotate each in its said predetermined direction and thereby to urge simultaneously each of the pairs of arms in the closing direction.

8. In a machine for applying adhesive tape to an article, pressure means for wiping down the tape comprising a pair of pivoted arms, each of said arms having a wheel connected thereto and adapted to rotate therewith, each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, a pivoted bracket, elastic pressure means for rotating said bracket about its pivot; a pair of operating wheels rotatably mounted on said bracket and adapted to rotate thereon as a unit, a first flexible member engaged around one of said operating wheels and one of said arm wheels, and a second flexible member engaged around the other of said operating wheels and the other of said arm wheels, one of said flexible members being engaged around its associated wheels in an opposite direction from the engagement of the other flexible member about its associated wheels whereby said arm wheels counter rotate and swing said arms in a closing direction toward each other when said bracket is pivoted in an appropriate direction.

9. In a machine for applying adhesive tape to an article, pressure means for wiping down the tape comprising a pair of pivoted arms, each of said arms having a wheel connected thereto and adapted to rotate therewith, each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, a pivoted bracket, elastic pressure means for rotating said bracket about its pivot; an operating element rotatably mounted on said bracket, a first flexible member engaged around said element and one of said armwheels, and a second flexible member engaged around said element and the other of said arm wheels, one of said flexible members beingengaged around said element and its associated wheel in an opposite direction from the engagement of the other flexible member whereby said arm wheels counter -rotate and swing said arms in a closing direction toward each other when said bracket is pivoted in an appropriate direction.

10. In a machine for applying adhesive tape to an article, pressure means for wiping down the tape comprising a pair of pivoted arms, each of said arms having a sprocket connected thereto and adapted to rotate therewith, each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, a pivoted bracket, elastic pressure means for rotating said bracket about its pivot; a pair of operating sprockets rotatably mounted on said bracket and adapted to rotate thereon as a unit, a first chain engaged around one of said operating sprockets and one of said arm sprockets, and a second chain engaged around the other of said operating sprockets and the other of said arm sprockets, one of said chains being engaged around its associated sprockets in an opposite direction from the other chain whereby said arm sprockets counter rotate and swing said arms in a closing direction toward each other when said bracket is pivoted in an appropriate direction.

11. In a machine for applying adhesive tape to an article, pressure means for wiping down the tape comprising a pair of arms, means mounting said arms for pivoting movement about a fixed axis, each of said arms having a separate sprocket connected thereto and adapted to rotate therewith, said arm sprockets being of equal diameter, each arm having a tape engaging member at its outer end, an elongated bracket, means mounting said bracket at one end for pivoting movement about a fixed axis, elastic pressure means for rotating said bracket about its pivot axis; a pair of operating sprockets rotatably mounted on the other end of said bracket and adapted to rotate thereon as a unit, a first chain engaged around one of said operating sprockets and one of said arm sprockets, and a second chain engaged around the other of said operating sprockets and the other of said arm sprockets, one of said chains being engaged around its associated sprockets in an opposite direction from the other chain whereby said arm sprockets counter rotate and swing said arms in a closing direction toward each other when said bracket is pivoted in an appropriate direction, one of said operating sprockets being of a larger diameter than the other to provide differential relative movement between said arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,052,903 9/1936 Stagmeier et al. 156-468 2,504,060 4/1950 Weber 156-468 XR 2,643,016 6/1953 Steckling 156-468 2,653,727 9/1953 Wagner et al. 156-489 XR 3,108,922 10/1963 Possis et al 156-468 FOREIGN PATENTS 848,091 9/1960 Great Britain.

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,256,716 February 22, 1966 Winton S, Loveland et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 69, after "particularly" insert in FIG. 4. The roll is composed of suitable resilient material column 4, line 3, after "appropriate" insert position line 9, strike out "of", third occurrence; column 5, line 4, for "rolls" read roll column 6, lines 59 to 61, for "member to rotate each in its said predetermined direction and thereby to urge simultaneously each of the pairs of arms in the closing direction." read member.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of February 1967. (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A TAPE APPLYING MECHANISM COMPRISING TWO PAIRS OF PIVOTED ARMS EACH ARM HAVING A TAPE ENGAGING MEMBER AT ITS OUTER END, THE ARMS OF EACH PAIR BEING CONCENTRICALLY MOUNTED IN OPPOSED RELATION ON A COMMON PIVOT AXIS, A SEPARATE MOVABLY MOUNTED OPERATING UNIT FOR EACH PAIR OF ARMS, AN OPERATING CONNECTOR MEANS FROM EACH OPERATING UNIT TO EACH OF THE ARMS OF THE CORRESPONDING PAIR FOR COUNTER ROTATING SAID ARMS IN A CLOSING DIRECTION TOWARD EACH OTHER WHEN SAID OPERATING UNITS ARE MOVED IN APPROPRIATE DIRECTIONS, AND A COMMON ELASTIC POWER OPERATING MEANS MOUNTED BETWEEN AND CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID UNITS. 